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Comment by Muriel kakani on September 18, 2009 at 7:59am

Hi,
I have just started a blog: Ecological Tales for Environment Education-India.The blog is packed with ecological tales, lesson plans, activities, information… I have tried to make it as teacher-friendly as possible.

I believe storytelling is a powerful way to instill love and concern for the environment in children Stories can help introduce kids to new concepts, add depth to a lesson, and enliven any topic. Storytelling also gives an opportunity for emotional transformation as every story is designed to provide a moral message, which children take to heart.

If you happen to visit my blog, you will notice that it focuses on India. I have done it purposefully because I believe that environment education has to help children reconnect with their land-based cultures. Environmental education goes beyond global warming and waste management. For me it is a rediscovery of the wisdom of indigenous people and their ecological traditions.

Comment by MikeMartin on March 24, 2009 at 11:07am

Greeting eco-teachers lounge,

I appreciate the acceptance into this group,. My name is Mike Martin. I am an optimists and the director of an environmental nonprofits that helps educators raise funds to improve the educational system abilities to teach about water issues. Water is a most precious natural resource and our waterways are vital to life.

I joined the Navy in 1984. As a naive kid from Maine, I didn't have a clue about the health of our ecosystems. It was common practice for all naval ships to dispose of our trash in the oceans. yes, we through all kinds of things of the back of our ships, and if I was a gambler, I would bet that this disgusting practice is still going on today! It needs to stop and our kids need to become aware of the many water problems so that they are more prepared to provide solutions to the water related problems. Check out the article in this blog and watch Ed Norton explain it. I apologize...can you find it in your heart to forgive me? http://www.greenvillecofamily.com/the-great-garbage-patch

Warmest regards,

Mike Martin
Executive Director
Touch Tanks for Kids
http://www.touchtanksforkids.org/

Comment by D White on March 14, 2009 at 12:51am

This place earth, is such a treasure, I want to do all I can to make sure it is happy and healthy for all who come after me. I hope everyone will do their part to do that as well, let's keep this place special and beautiful for everyone from this point forward. ddw.edbd

Comment by D White on February 8, 2009 at 9:37pm

It takes a village to bond together and make a difference and the more we give to the saving this place we live the longer it will be around for all those who do. ddw.edbd

Comment by D White on February 6, 2009 at 11:58pm

From the earth comes energy that life force that charges us thought out each day. The love of it means the love of ourselves. ddw.edbd

Comment by Meredith Gossland on April 16, 2008 at 10:01am

Hi everyone,

I have been a little consumed with my private life lately. My Dad passed away and my first earth day event took place so it has been crazy here. In June I will be starting up a teen eco-entrepreneur class that will run for 12 weeks Monday though Friday for 4 hours a day.
Teaching teens the basics of business, helping them to open real businesses and then guiding them to brainstorm ways to make it an ecologically sound enterprise, that also benefits people in some way. (for instance medical emergency ID bracelets for kids instead of just jewlry, or an art gallery with pictures that address Global Warming or use only environmentally sound materials or a cleaning service that uses on eco-safe products or writing books of poetry using only 100% recycled paper and soy inks.) The basic business curriculum is free from Merrill Lynch, the eco-aspect is something that will be added to basic curriculum. I will let you know how it goes.

Another educational project I'll be working on is to get kids to write a book about what they see happening to the world around them in terms of the environment. It includes field trips to see local environmental problems, to work to solve the problem on some level and then to write about their experience. ( This can range from looking at local wildlife issues, to health issues with foods, to cleaning up local waterways or beaches that are filled with trash.... going weekly to the same area and collecting trash then weighing it and and classifying the kinds of trash they find I.E. plastic, metal,paper.
Then writing a letter to the local newspapers about thier findings and adding the information to their book. Raising money to publish the book or finding a publisher who will pay for the book (profits should go back, in large part, to fund the clean up projects) Then sending copies of the book to local politicians, book reviewers in both magazines and newspapers, environmental groups such as Sierra Club for sale on their websites, their school board, their state enviromental committees and of course their parents. If the book is published by a large publisher then of course it wold be sold in bookstores but if it is self published then the classes will market the book themselves sending copies to independant book stores and putting copies up for sale on Amazon or Ebay.

Comment by sharonstahoviak on March 28, 2008 at 9:56am

I am an art teacher in a rural community that has a deaf ear to environmental issues. I would like to make a difference by incorporating environmental education into my lesson plans. Where can I find "green art project ideas"?